PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Congressional Republicans are putting together a display of unity as they gather for their annual policy retreat. The event in Philadelphia comes just days into a rocky start for Donald Trump's presidency.
Senate and House lawmakers arrived in Philadelphia by chartered train and headed into working sessions at a downtown hotel. Their goal: to plan a path forward with the new administration on health care, taxes and other issues.
Trump and Vice President Mike Pence will be addressing the gathering tomorrow, along with British Prime Minister Theresa May. That's a first for a foreign head of state.
Lawmakers are trying to focus on areas of agreement, downplaying distractions created by Trump's unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud and the inauguration crowd size.
GOP lawmakers are welcoming Trump's actions today on immigration and the border wall with Mexico. Republican Congressman Doug Collins of Georgia says the wall was "a very big part" of Trump's campaign promises.
But Trump's support for torture as an interrogation tactic is drawing a sometimes skeptical response. Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota points out that Congress has banned torture. He says, "This is a debate we've had already, we believe it is settled law."
